H.—llA.

Relief Payments. No increase in relief rates of pay has been made since August, 1937, for classifications " A " to " I " (inclusive), but in excess of "I " class fresh classifications as set out hereunder have been established. The maximum relief rates formerly stopped at "I " class. The rates for the new grades became operative from the 31st January, 1938.

The maximum permissible income scales were also amended from the 31st January, 1938, to deal with the above classifications and Scheme No. 5. The Scheme No. 5 rates were originally the same as for sustenance, but these now go to a common maximum of £4 for " C " and higher classifications. The following table summarizes the existing rates of sustenance and work-relief for the various conjugal classifications, together with the relative scales of maximum permissible earnings

In view of the enlargement of the number of conjugal classifications previously recognized by the Department and the concomitant alterations in scales of relief and maximum permissible earnings (both for Maori and European), it is desirable to set out again in their up-to-date form the tables of relief rates, past and present, which were presented in the previous year's report. These tables set out the rates which previously operated, together with the increases granted since Ist June, 1936, and 31st January, 1938 : —•

Improvements in Status, &c., of Europeans.—Scheme No. 5.

6

Classification. 06 Scheme S Rates - s. s. d. " J " married men, with eight children . . . . . . .. 67 70 6 " K " married men, with nine children . . . . . . . . 71 74 6 " L " married men, with ten children .. . . .. . . 75 78 6 " M " married men, with eleven or more children. . .. ■ .. 79 80 0

Classification Sustenance Schemes [Maximum Allowable Income. ' Bates - Ratea - J Sustenance. | Scheme 5. ! ! £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. ; £ s. d. " A" single men .. .. .. ..100 110 2 00 200 " B " married, no children .. .. .. ! 1 15 0 1 18 6 3 0 0 3 0 0 " 0" married, with one child .. .. .. 119 0 226 300 400 " D" married, with two children .. .. 230 266 300 4 0 0 " E " married, with three children .. .. 270 2 10 6 320 400 '" F" married, with four children .. .. 2 11 0 2 14 6 3 6 0 4 0 0 " G " married, with five children .. .. 2 15 0 2 18 6 3 10 0 4 0 0 ■■ H" married, with six children .. .. 2 19 0 326 3 14 0 400 "I" married, with seven children .. .. 330 366 3 18 0 400 "J" married, with eight children .. .. 370 3 10 6 3 18 0 400 " K" married, with nine children .. .. 3 11 0 3 14 6 3 18 0 4 0 0 " L " married, with ten children .. . . 3 15 0 3 18 6 3 18 0 4 0 0 "' M " married, with eleven or more children.. .. 3 19 0 400 400 400

Old Rates. Rates Amount of Increase. Class. ■ Kstricts. S Towns! y Centres, Countr y Distriete - Secondary Towns. Main Centres. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. % £ s. d. % £ s. d. % A.. 0 12 00 14 00 17 0110090 75 070 50 040 24 B .. 1 1 0 1 4 0 1 7 0 1 18 6 0 17 6 83 0 14 6 60 0 116 43 C .. 1 5 0 1 8 0 1 11 0 2 2 6 0 17 6 70 0 14 6 52 0 11 6 37 D .. 1 9 0 1 12 0 1 15 0 2 6 6 0 17 6 60 0 14 6 45 0 116 33 E .. 1 13 0 1 16 0 1 19 0 2 10 6 0 17 6 53 0 14 6 40 0 116 30 F .. 1 15 0 1 18 0 2 1 0 2 14 6 0 19 6 56 0 16 6 43 0 13 6 33 G.. 1 17 02002302 18 6 116 58 0 18 6 46 0 15 6 36 H.. 1 19 02202 5 0326136 60 106 49 0 17 6 39 I.. 210240270366156 62 126 5] 0 19 6 42 J .. 2 1 0 2 4 0 2 7 0 3 10 6 1 9 6 72 16 6 60 13 6 50 K.. 2102402703 14 6 1 13 6 81 1 10 6 70 17 6 58 L.. 2 1 0 240 2703 18 61 17 6 91 1 14 6 78 1116 67 M .. 2 1 0 2 4 0 2 7 0 4 0 0 1 19 0 95 1 16 0 82 1 13 0 70